Fuel tanker falls off Nueva Vizcaya bridge; 2 die

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Two men died while three others were injured when a truck loaded with 40,000 liters of fuel fell off a bridge and burst into flames in Bagabag town in this province on Sunday night.

The charred remains of truck driver Filmor Timbungan, 39, and helper Abner Dula, 32, were recovered from the wreckage yesterday morning, according to Maj. Romeo Barnachea, chief of the Bagabag police.

Meanwhile, Erick de Vera, 34; Edwin Paclaba, 52, and Jayson Paclaba, 18, were rushed to the Salubris Medical Center in Solano town for treatment of injuries.

Reports said the truck, which was headed to Isabela from Bulacan, was traveling along the bridge in Barangay Baretbet when it figured in the accident at around 11:30 p.m.

Workers who were sleeping in a bunkhouse under the bridge responded and were able to pull out three men from the burning truck.

They failed to rescue Timbungan and Dula, who were pinned under the truck.

The fire spread and destroyed the workers’ bunkhouse. It also destroyed the equipment and materials for the ongoing construction of a new bridge that would replace the old one where the accident occurred.

Authorities placed the damage to the equipment and materials at P4 million.

Fire out was declared at around 2 a.m.

The more than four-hour fire caused traffic on both sides of the highway leading to the bridge.

4 dead in Iloilo vehicular mishaps

Meanwhile, in Iloilo, four men died in separate vehicular accidents involving motorcycles on Sunday.

The fatalities were identified as Rodel Rodrigo, 40, of Pototan town; Mark Angelo Jorge, 23, of Estancia; Regie Lobia, 23, of Lambunao, and Freths Catedrilla, 19, also of Lambunao.

Reports said Rodrigo and his passenger Rowen Nudalo were headed to San Joaquin town when they figured in the accident in Barangay Nanga, Guimbal town.

Witnesses said Rodrigo was driving at top speed when his motorcycle overshot the gutter, causing him to be thrown off the vehicle.

Rodrigo was declared dead on arrival in a nearby hospital, where Nudalo was taken for treatment of injuries.

Jorge was traveling in Barangay Daripdip, San Rafael town when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by Romar Silva.

The victim was thrown off his motorcycle. He died while being rushed to the Gov. Niel D. Tupas Sr. District Hospital.

Silva was taken to the police station for questioning.

Lobia and Catedrilla died after their motorcycles collided in Poblacion Ilawod, Lambunao.

Lobia’s passenger Joel Garsaniba, 41, suffered injuries in the head, face and mouth.

Garsaniba was taken to the Iloilo Provincial Hospital for treatment of injuries.